Oyster opener



Oct. 18, 1938. I J BENSON 2,133,529

OYSTER OPENER Filed March 15, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheetl Oct. 18, 1938. J. E.BENSON I OYSTER OPENER Fi led March 15, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I-H-IPatented Oct. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE Claims.

This invention is directed to an improvement in oyster openers, whereinoysters, regardless of sizeor shape, may be conveniently placed and theshell rapidly and positively opened to permit re- 5 moval of the oyster.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an implement ofthis type wherein the opening knife is guided for straight line movementunder appropriate lever action, to insure certainty of movement in theshell-opening operation under just sufficient leverage to compel shellopening without reaching the oyster proper.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means whereby theimplement may be readily and conveniently set for cooperation withoysters of difierent size, and whereby the oyster is positively heldagainst yielding under the opening action of the knife.

The invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings,in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the oysteropening implement.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the same.

Figure 4 is an end View of the same.

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the holding jaw.

Figure 6 is a vertical section of the same on the line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the knife.

: Figure 8 is asection on line 8-8 of Figure 2.

Figure 9 is a section on line 99 of Figure 2. The improved implement inthe preferred form illustrated in the drawings, includes a base I, on

the surface of which is secured an elongated barlike member 2. Themember 2 is preferably welded to cross-strips 3, at right angles to andprojecting in both directions beyond the member, which strips areremovably secured to the base at 4. A threaded bolt 5 may be passedupwardly through the base and take into the member 2 adjacent therespective ends of the latter, if additional holding is desired.

A knifeguide block 6 is secured to and rises above the member 2 at oneend of the latter. The block may be integral with the member 2 orindependently formed and secured to the member in any appropriatemanner. The block is formed in the upper surface with a channel I toreceive and guide the knife, one wall of the channel havinginwardly-extending pins 8. The block is provided with a laterally-offsetbracket, the upper surface of which is flush with the upper surface ofthe block.

A knife or opening member 9, preferably of rectangular form in sectionand of a size to slidably fit the channel I, is mounted for movement insaid channel. One wall of the knife is formed with a longitudinallyranging channel II] to receive the pins 8 when the knife is in place,thus assisting in guiding the knife and preventing any upward movementthereof. The knife is provided with a pressure pin II extending upwardlyfrom the upper surface of the knife, such pin preferably having a freeencircling sleeve I2. An operating lever I3 is formed with a pivotopening I4 at one end to cooperate with an opening I5 in the bracket,here indicated at I6, a pivot pin I! being passed through the openingsI4 and I5. The lever at an appropriate point is formed with an elongatedslot I8, to cooperate with the pressure pin I I, the rotatable sleeve onthe latter providing an anti-friction hearing.

The upper surface of the end of the member 2 remote from the block 6 isformed with successive teeth or serrations I9, presenting squaresurfaces toward the block and inclined surfaces from the block. The sidewalls of the member 2 for a length exceeding that of the toothed portionis formed with longitudinal-ranging channels 20, which open through theend of the member 2 remote from the block 6.

A holding jaw 2| is designed for cooperation with the member 2, andcomprises a rectangular shaped body, cut away at the lower end toprovide guide-sections 22 and 23, which slidably embrace the toothedportion of the member 2. The guide sections 22 and 23 are formed neartheir lower ends with inwardly-extending pins 24 which slidably fit inthe member channels 20. The lower end of the jaw body between and at theupper ends of the guide sections 22 and 23 is upwardly inclined, as at25, Figure 6, providing a sharp edge 26 to cooperate with the teeth I9.The inclination 25 permits the jaw to be inclined rearwardly andupwardly relative to the block 6, when the jaw is in position. The faceof the jaw body toward the block 6 is formed with a re-entrant face 21,preferably V-shaped in vertical section, with the surfaces thereofroughened or serrated, as at 28.

The pins 24 engaged within the channels 20 not only provide a slidingconnection between the member 2 and jaw 2| but also function as pivotswhereby the jaw may be swung from the inclined position illustrated inFigures 1 and 2 toward a vertical position to disengage the edge 26 fromany one of the teeth preparatory to adjustment of the jaw toward or awayfrom the block 6 by sliding the pins longitudinally of the channelathepins permitting the jaw to again assume the inclined position in anydesired adjusted position thereof whereby the edge 26 engages the squaresurface of an adjacent tooth to lock the jaw against movement away fromthe block 6.

The end of the opening member toward the jaw is formed in an appropriatemanner for facilitating the entrance of the knife between the shells ofthe oyster and forcing such shells apart. As illustrated, the knife isshown as provided with a chisel point or end having a relatively sharppenetrating end and sharply inclined surfaces beyond the point. Theopening point, indicated at 29, is preferably constructed as described,but is not limited in this particular.

In use, the jaw is adjusted longitudinally of the member 2 and relativeto the block 6, to accommodate the particular size of oyster beinghandled. The jaw in its adjusted position is fixed against oppositemovement through engagement with the teeth IS. The oyster is placedbetween the jaw and block, one end of the shell being placed in therecessed face 21 of the jaw and the other end being held in line withthe knife. The lever is operated to force the end of the knife betweenthe shell-halves of the oyster, the form of the knife penetrating endreadily opening and spreading the shells without disturbing the oysterproper. The oyster is held in the hand of the operator during theopening, in order that the oyster may be held substantially horizontaland loss of juice avoided, during the opening operation.

The jaw may be readily adjusted to accommodate oysters of differentsizes, and with irregular shaped oyster shells the ability to presentthe shell juncture to the knife by hand avoids loss of time and permitsthe ready and convenient shelling of all oysters regardless of size orformation.

The base I is designed to be removably secured to a table or the like byadjustable clamps 30.

What is claimed to be new is:

1. An oyster opener including a bar-like member formed in its. uppersurface at one end with teeth, the sides of the member havinglongitudinally ranging channels opening through the end'of the member, ablock carried by the member at the end opposite the teeth, a knifeslidable in the block, a lever for operating the knife, and a jaw havingsliding cooperation with the channels in the member and formed to engageany selected tooth to thereby determine the spacingof the jaw from theblock, that face of the jaw next the block being formed with anoyster-receiving recess.

2. An oyster opener including a bar-like member formed in the sides atone end with guiding channels and on the upper surface substantiallycoextensive with said channels with teeth, a jaw having guiding portionsto embrace the sides of the member, with such portions terminallyprovided with pins to engage in said channels, the jaw being formed topresent a sharpened edge for cooperation with the teeth, whereby the jawmay be adjusted longitudinally of the member, a block at the oppositeend of the member, a knife slidable in the block, and a lever foroperating the knife.

3. A construction as defined in claim 2, wherein the lever is pivotallysupported on a bracket carried by the block and wherein the lever isformed with an elongated slot to engage a pin carried by the knife, thepin having a freely rotating sleeve to form an anti-friction bearing forthe lever.

4. A construction as defined in claim 2, wherein the block is providedwith pins to slidably engage a longitudinally ranging channel in oneside of the knife, to thereby prevent upward movement of the knifeduring operation.

5. An oyster opener including a bar-like member, a block projectingupwardly from one end of the member, a knife slidably supported by theblock, a plurality of teeth on the upper face of the member adjacent theopposite end thereof, the teeth presenting square surfaces toward theblock and inclined surfaces away from the block, an oyster engaging jawslidably and pivotally connected with the member and having an edge forengagement with the square surface of any one of the teeth to preventmovement of the jaw away from the block, and means foractuating theknife.

7 JOSEPH E. BENSON.

